How Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a Pioneer for Accessibility

To guarantee inclusivity, enhance social cohesion and promote community well-being, crafting accessible buildings is essential.

By doing so, not only will this ensure that aging populations and disabled people are supported in society, but it will also significantly contribute to a more sustainable and equitable urban environment globally. 

Recently, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium shared an incredible achievement it has received — being the inaugural Fair Change-accredited venue.

This means that the venue has accessible baby changing facilities to all parents and caregivers — an incredible milestone for parenting.

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur, says: “As a Club that prides itself on diversity, equity and inclusion, our stadium becoming the first ever Fair Change venue further promotes the clear message that parenting is for all and dispels the notion that changing nappies is solely the job of the female caregiver.

“We are extremely proud to be leading on this campaign and giving both Mums and Dads an opportunity to attend events at our stadium with their young children, safe in the knowledge that baby changing will never be an obstacle.”

What makes a building accessible?

Historically, prejudicial societal attitudes and a focus on aesthetics have created barriers in crafting accessible buildings. 

However, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is beginning to be increasingly promoted across several industries to foster social harmony, reduce prejudice and enhance values of fairness and respect. 

One way in which we can craft an equitable environment is by designing accessible buildings.

As a result of doing so, disabled people can navigate and access education, essential services, workplaces and social activities independently.

By enhancing the accessibility of our buildings, we can enhance our commitment to social equity and diversity and craft an inclusive environment in which everyone can feel empowered. 

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: The inaugural Fair Change venue

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s achievement of becoming the first Fair Change venue secures its position as a pioneer of diversity and inclusion.

The stadium is striving to dismiss any damaging stereotypes that baby changing is entirely the role for the female caregiver by ensuring that they have accessible baby changing facilities for all parents and caregivers. 

The change succeeds a campaign Love & Power released in June — the Bum Deal.

This campaign aspired to ensure that male and female caregivers have identical access to vital facilities, promoting parenting as a mutual responsibility.

Charlotte Fischer, Co-Director of Love & Power, says: “I am a mum who grew up going to football with my dad, so I know how important football grounds are for dads and their kids.

“Our end goal is for legislation to be introduced in two years that requires any public venue with a toilet to include baby changing accessible to all caregivers.

“To get there, we need 10 iconic British locations to become Fair Change venues — Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is the first.  

“Spurs have changed the game for us on this — we’ve had hundreds of people signing up to be part of the campaign and other public venues contacting us to say ‘if Spurs are doing it, we’ll do it too’ – they’ve made it seem possible.

“Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is unlike anything I have ever seen in terms of accessibility and inclusion.”

Elsewhere at the club, Tottenham Hotspur continues to highlight its commitment to DE&I, with a vision of creating “an environment in which everyone feels welcome and has equal access to the Club, its services and facilities”.

It is also one of the first signatories of the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) — a code that strives to address ethnicity and gender under-representation in roles in English football clubs and encourage meaningful change in recruitment. 

Accessibility worldwide

Across the world, many prominent venues are implementing accessibility to craft an equitable future for all.

McCormick Place — a convention centre in Chicago — has implemented several accessibility features to foster a sense of belonging within communities.

These features include:

• Braille and raised lettering on all public signs
• First aid stations, retail outlets, drinking fountains and restaurants are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair seating is available throughout the entire Arie Crown Theatre
• 4 drop-off points for taxis and cars has automatic entry doors and ramped curbs 
• Trained service animals are welcome
• Restrooms have accessible or ambulatory stalls
• Assisted listening transmitters and receivers are available free of charge.

By integrating this principles into the centre, McCormick Place can guarantee that all individuals can access its facilities without barriers, enhance the safety and usability of the building and reduce discrimination.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and McCormick Place are just two examples of buildings who are becoming trailblazers for accessibility across the world.

To craft an equitable and inclusive future, organisations must begin to incorporate accessibility into its operations to craft a fair world for all. 

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